peculiar character of the dispensation of the Mystery, stretching back as it

does to before the foundation of the world, ascending up far above all,

embracing the far-off Gentile, and looking forward to the ages to come.  Yet

when all these explanations have been given, we come back to this prayer and ask

what is the purpose of this petition?  How does it fit in with the intention of

the epistle as a whole?  Can we relate it to the expressed desires of the

apostle in connection with his peculiar ministry, and what is the testimony of

the Scriptures themselves to breadth, length, depth and height?  Let us begin

with this inquiry, and consider the way in which these terms are employed

Platos the Greek word translated `breadth' occurs elsewhere only in

Revelation 20:9 and 21:16.  `The breadth of the earth', `the breadth of the Holy

Mekos the Greek word translated `length' occurs elsewhere only in

Revelation 21:16, where it is also used of the Holy City.  This fact must surely

be taken into consideration when we seek an explanation of the apostle's

Bathos `depth', occurs nine times in the New Testament.  It is used of the

deepness of the soil for seed sowing (Matt. 13:5; Mark 4:5); for the sea (Luke

5:4); for the deep things of God and of Satan (Rom. 11:33; 1 Cor. 2:10; Rev.

2:24); for the depth of the poverty of the Macedonians (2 Cor. 8:2) and for the

reference in Romans 8:39 `Nor height nor depth' which were among the many things

that, though formidable, could never separate from the love of God.

Hupsos `height'.  This word is used of the heavenly Jerusalem in

Revelation 21:16 and the supreme glory of the Ascended Saviour in Ephesians 4:8.

Elsewhere it is translated `on high' (Luke 1:78; 24:49) and `exalted' (Jas.

1:9).  What emerges from this comparison is the fact that the Revelation uses

three of these words to describe the Holy City, the heavenly Jerusalem, omitting

`the depth'.  When we turn to the Old Testament, we find the word breadth used:

(1) For the breadth of the Ark (Gen. 6:15).

(2) For the breadth of the land of promise (Gen. 13:17).

(3) For the breadth of the furniture and building of the Tabernacle and Temple.

Length is also used for the Ark, for the land of promise, and for the

furniture and buildings of the Tabernacle and the Temple.  Depth does not appear

to have been used in the Old Testament either of the land or of the Tabernacle

and Temple.  Height is used of the Ark, of the land, and again of the Tabernacle

and Temple.  In addition, depth and height are used of God and His ways as

contrasted with those of man.  These we must consider separately.  What does

emerge from this comparison of terms is the following fact:

The earthly inheritance promised to Abraham is defined by two

measurements only `The breadth and the length'.

The heavenly city, the new Jerusalem, the heavenly side of Abraham's

inheritance, is defined by `breadth, length and height', three